Kathryn Szabo

Traveling to other countries can be a great experience, but getting there may be more complicated than some expect, especially in terms of health.

Dr. Kathryn Szabo of Butler Health System Primary Care in Seven Fields said the main concern for people when considering international travel is vaccinations.

She said she usually approaches the subject at annual checkups, but sometimes patients will come to her directly to ask which, if any, vaccinations they will need.

Szabo said she first checks the CDC's website, which is available to the public, to find her patients' needs and options.

“The CDC has a great website,” she said. “That's the one that we go to.”

The website lists the vaccines based on travel destination at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel. The site divides vaccines into three categories based on necessity: all travelers, most travelers and some travelers.

The website lists routine vaccines under the all travelers category. This group includes the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine, the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, the polio vaccine and an annual flu shot. The site recommends that routine vaccinations should be up-to-date, regardless of travel.

Other than the routine ones, vaccines are listed based on need for a particular country, and the number of shots needed will vary. For example, England only recommends a handful of vaccines while Afghanistan requires more based on the known risks, such as polio, which needs adult boosters, and typhoid.

Szabo said some vaccines for rarer diseases need to be ordered.

“Some offices don't carry the typhoid vaccine or the yellow fever vaccine because we wouldn't use them that often,” she said.

Szabo said there are some diseases, like the Zika virus, which has no vaccine. Szabo said many of her patients, even those not traveling, are asking her about the virus. She said while most don't have cause for concern, especially not yet in the U.S., those pregnant or trying to conceive, whether male or female, need to exercise caution.

She said travel avoidance may be the best solution.

“If you are planning to get pregnant, you should avoid traveling to those countries,” she said.

Szabo said sometimes travel is unavoidable, especially those who travel for work. She said her best advice to these people is to avoid wet areas and mosquitoes as much as possible. She said simply applying bug spray that contains DEET may save the lives of many future children.

Szabo said the CDC website is interactive so anyone can stay up-to-date on what countries are struggling with the Zika virus.

“It's mostly about prevention because we don't have great testing capabilities,” she said. “I don't think people can just come to me and request the blood test.”

For now, people concerned that they have the virus must schedule an appointment with a Department of Health office.

Szabo said she perceives most of the fear about the virus is caused by its elusiveness and the harmful effects. She said fear will continue to grow until doctors can find a way to detect it, and ideally cure or vaccinate against the disease.

But she said she can't blame her patients for being scared.

“People are concerned about it,” Szabo said. “I think the concern is due to lack of knowledge.”